Compare towns
Brookline vs Calais vs Epping vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Brookline | Calais | Epping | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,713 |
7,430Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Epping and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Epping and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Epping School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.